by Suelin Low Chew Tung
Nations’ Day, opera, district visits, China-Central Asia Summit and 5D immersive shows were part of my third month in China, hosted by China International Press Communication Centre (CIPCC).
Once the extended Labour Day Holiday ended, from 4 May, we packed in lecture after activity after field trip, including leaving Beijing for almost a week in Yan’an and Xi’an, in Shaanxi Province. In Beijing, we visited the Forbidden City, and I was overwhelmed by the size and grandeur of the place, the care in its preservation, and the throngs of visitors present. I contemplated the potential of similar interest in the forts and batteries in Grenada and related tourism-heritage sites.
We visited the National Forestry and Grassland Administration and learned about the policy that covers conservation of the landscapes of China, and later toured Yeyahu National Wetlands Park. The “Light of Wisdom, Traditional Chinese Medicine Culture Exhibition” at the National Museum of China, and the displays of equipment, medicinals and literature were most enlightening.
Our weekly National Conditions Lectures were provided by Professor Zhong Xin (Chinese media history) and Professor Zhang Di (Technology driven content production evolution in Chinese media), both from Renmin University of China.
Our cultural activities this month were Chinese seal carving, “Searching for Dreams: 600 Years of Kunqu Opera ” Exhibition and Performance Event at Chang’an Grand Theatre, The Art of Tea and the Concert of Intangible Culture Heritage Music hosted by Beijing Language and Cultural Centre for Diplomatic Missions.
Our Nations Day CIPCC Social Event was brilliant, with many introductions to our colleagues’ countries and foods, music and dancing from Africa, Asia-Pacific and Eastern and Central Europe. Not finding breadfruit in Beijing on short notice meant no national dish, Oil Down; however, I presented homemade non-alcoholic Sorrel drink and Conkies wrapped in banana leaves, not foil.
The visit to the (CPC) answered several questions our groups had on the making of contemporary China, from the struggles of the Long March to dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic, to space exploration. Actually, the day of our visit was the same day that Shenzhou-16 spacecraft lifted off.
The flight to Yan’an, Shaanxi Province, was short and uneventful. We visited several Revolutionary sites, as well as Liangjiahe, Yangjialing and Zaoyuan villages. Liangjiahe Village is famously known as President Xi’s second hometown, where as a youth, he and others relocated from Beijing to help the villagers shake off poverty. Then we took the high-speed train to Xi’an, to cover the 2-day China-Central Asia Summit.
Prior to the summit, we visited SCO Base for Agricultural Technology Exchange and Training, and Yangling Agricultural Demonstration Park, followed by the CR Express Assembly Centre (Xi’An) and Railway Vocational College of Technology.
After the summit, we toured Qin Chuangyuan Innovation and Promotion Centre, LONGi Green Energy Technology Co., Ltd., and I finally got to see the Terracotta Warriors at Emperor Qinshihuang’s Mausoleum Site Museum.
Back in Beijing, I was part of a mixed group with an internship at Peoples’ Daily Online. My assignment was to write an article on my experience of Chinese Modernisation. On the last day in May, we visited Lize Financial Business District and participated in the Launch Ceremony of the Third ‘Beijing·A Global City’ Short Video Contest in Fengtai District.
On Sunday, 11 June, our group leaves Beijing for the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau to cover an ecological forum.
Suelin is visiting Beijing, hosted by China International Press Communication Centre (CIPCC), to report on China with a Grenadian view.
Very interesting Suelin, thanks.
Dear Sulin. Please stay in China where you are very happy spouting Chinese propaganda. Grenada does not want nor care about your ALL EXPENSES PAID TRIP .
Amen!!